Games
At nearly 10 years old, Xbox 360 is still going strong. Here are 10 games to look out for this year.
Considering the fast-paced, constantly evolving nature of the video games industry, for the Xbox 360 to be approaching 10 years old and still going is quite a feat. From cutting-edge games console to fully-fledged media centre, Xbox 360 has been a mainstay of living rooms and bedrooms for nearly a decade.
That’s no surprise when you think about some of the incredible games the console has enjoyed: Halo, Gears of War, Forzaand Titanfallall spring to mind as just a select few of the exclusives Xbox 360 has graced us with. Like the PS3, Xbox 360 is well into its twilight years… but the fun isn’t over yet. Want proof? Here are 10 more great games that are still on the way for Microsoft’s extremely noisy old warhorse, before it’s embraced by the red ring of death.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Lara Croft’s latest outing is designed with Xbox One in mind, but thanks to Square Enix’s deal with Microsoft it’ll also be coming to Xbox 360 too. Crystal Dynamics’ original Tomb Raider reboot was a worthy game of the year candidate back in 2013, and the sequel looks to be going bigger and better, with a full, in-depth crafting system as well as creating a living, breathing world around you. Completing the story won’t just involve taking on the mysterious ‘Trinity’ organisation that has been tracking you – you’ll have to survive the elements too, as Rise of the Tomb Raider throws harsh, dynamic weather at you, and plenty of dangerous predators too. A perfect Uncharted 4 alternative.
FIFA 16
Could this be the last year we’ll see FIFA on last-gen consoles? We reckon so. A few of FIFA 16’s next-gen upgrades won’t make it to the older console – EA’s Ignite engine will not feature on Xbox 360 for example, and neither will the new career mode features – but for the most part, it’ll be the same game across both consoles, complete with new AI defender intelligence, no-touch dribbling and 12 women’s national teams.
WRC 5
We’ve already been spoiled by Codemasters’ excellent Dirt Rally this year, but there’s more on the way for rally fans. Although developer Kylotonn might not be a name you’ve heard of, we can assure you that WRC 5 is in good hands – creative director Diego Sartori is a former rally mechanic turned games producer, whilst game director Alain Jarniou is the man behind the legendary V-Rally 3, as well as the Test Drive Unlimited series. Just check out the trailer above, and get ready to destroy gravel, dirt, snow and tarmac alike this October.
Destiny: The Taken King
We sure have learnt a lot in the first year of Destiny, haven’t we? Few games in the last decade have divided opinion so readily, and yet, millions of us are ready and waiting for the second instalment of Bungie’s epic shooter. Make no mistake – The Taken King is massive reboot for the franchise. Character levelling has been redesigned, and there’s a host of new PvP modes and Crucible maps, as well as new PvE area ‘The Dreadnaught’, not to mention the truckload of new weapons and armour that’s inbound. If Destiny didn’t float your boat first time round, it’s probably worth giving The Taken King a chance when it arrives on September 15.
Ori and the Blind Forest
Moon Studios’ beautiful open-world platformer is already a hit on Xbox One, but 360 owners are still patiently waiting for their version, which is still due to arrive at some point this year. Unsurprisingly, you control protagonist ‘Ori’ – a guardian spirit who has to restore the forest from the evil clutches of Kuro, the dark owl. Moon programmer David Clark admits that Ori is a ‘love letter’ to trailblazing 2D platformers like Rayman and Metroid, but this game goes above and beyond those, melding art and gameplay as well as anything we’ve seen, in a time where arthouse indie games are ten-a-penny.
Minecraft: Story Mode
Although Mojang is now working on games like ‘Scrolls’ and ‘Cobalt’, you didn’t really think Minecraft was just going to go away, did you? This time, though, Mojang isn’t alone – the story-telling geniuses at Telltale Games are involved too. The result is a brand new episodic adventure series, along the same lines as The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us, but set in the Minecraft universe. And with the likes of Patton Oswald, Brian Posehn and Ashley Johnson (‘Ellie’ from The Last of Us) already cast, this is definitely one to keep an eye out for in 2015.
Pro Evo 2016
FIFA’s perennial foe returns with much promise for the 2016 season: after all, last year was perhaps the first in a long time when Konami could legitimately claim to have the better football game. Sure, some of the licences are still missing – notably the Premier League, save for Manchester United – but PES is a far sight better than it was a few years ago. Pro Evolution Soccer 16 brings a much-improved collision system, dynamic weather mid-game and remodelled ball physics.
Lego Dimensions
We’ve seen many a Lego game over the last few years, and very few of them have failed to drag us into their unique world of barmy puzzle-solving. Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. The evil Lord Vortech has created rifts between all the Lego dimensions, recruiting villains from each to do his bidding, and to stop him, you’re going to need the help of an all-star team of Lego heroes, from Batman and Robin, to Gandalf and er, Homer Simpson. Lego Dimensions is out September 29 – make a note in your calendar.
Tales from the Borderlands: Season Five
We can’t get enough of Telltale Games’ interactive stories, and neither, it seems, can you. This time though, we’re going to be saying goodbye – season five of Tales from the Borderlands will be the last in the series, rounding up the story of Rhys and Fiona and their search for the ‘Vault of the Traveller’. There’s not much info on the ground for this yet, but keep an eye out for more news soon, as the finale is due to drop sometime this year.
Transformers: Devastation
Another Transformers game? You may well be a little sceptical, after all, the last few in the franchise have been nothing to write home about. But behind the development is none other than Platinum Games – the hack and slash experts responsible for Bayonetta, Vanquish and The Wonderful 101 – and that automatically makes Devastation a potential dark horse this year. You’ll be battling your way through Decepticon forces in some huge 3D environments, and if Devastation’s showing at E3 2015 is anything to go by, this fast-paced, combo-heavy button-basher could be something quite special.
